Golf information providing system, information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information, and golf information providing method

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are a golf information providing system, an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golf information providing method which are capable of efficiently inputting information generated during a round of golf in a golf course, creating predetermined golf information content based on the input information after the round of golf is finished, providing the created golf information content to each golfer, providing a score card to each golfer with efforts made by a caddie to fill the score card using a conventional method, and inserting various kinds of content, such as images taken before, after, and during the round of golf, into the score card such that high-quality score cards can be provided to all golfers participating in the round of golf, thereby exciting golfers&#39; interest, improving golfers&#39; convenience, and improving quality of a service provided to the golfers.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a golf information providing system, aninformation provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information,and a golf information providing method and, more particularly, to agolf information providing system, an information provision guidanceapparatus for providing golf information, and a golf informationproviding method that are capable of easily and conveniently providinggolfers with information generated during a round of golf in a golfcourse.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, three or four golfers and a caddie who assists the golfersplay a round of golf around 9 holes or 18 holes as a team in a golfcourse. At every hole, the caddie records strokes of the respectivegolfers and makes a score card. After the round of golf is finished, thecaddie provides the score card having the strokes of the respectivegolfers written thereon to the golfers.

At this time, however, only one score card is made and provided to thegolfers. That is, the golfers participating in the round of golf cannothave their own score cards. Consequently, the golfers may not have theirown score cards even when the golfers have good records.

Meanwhile, technologies that are capable of enabling each golfer torecord and store his/her strokes at each hole using a smart phone or agolf terminal held by each golfer have been proposed. In these cases,however, the golfers may not concentrate on playing golf since thegolfers must record their own strokes while playing a round of golf in agolf course.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf informationproviding system, an information provision guidance apparatus forproviding golf information, and a golf information providing method thatare capable of efficiently inputting information generated during around of golf in a golf course, creating predetermined golf informationcontent based on the input information after the round of golf isfinished, and providing the created golf information content to eachgolfer, thereby exciting golfers' interest, improving golfers'convenience, and improving quality of a service provided to the golfers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a golfinformation providing system, an information provision guidanceapparatus for providing golf information, and a golf informationproviding method that are capable of providing a score card to eachgolfer with efforts made by a caddie to fill the score card using aconventional method, and inserting various kinds of content, such asimages taken before, after, and during the round of golf, into the scorecard such that high-quality score cards can be provided to all golfersparticipating in the round of golf.

Technical Solution

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above andother objects can be accomplished by the provision of a golf informationproviding system including a round operation terminal for allowing inputof information generated during a round of golf, a management serverconfigured to communicate with the round operation terminal in awireless communication mode for receiving and storing the informationinput through the round operation terminal, and an information provisionguidance apparatus configured to communicate with the management serverin a wired/wireless communication mode for receiving informationrequested by a golfer from the management server and providing thereceived information to the golfer according to a request of the golfer.

The management server may be configured to prestore personal informationof golfers participating in each round of golf, the round operationterminal may be configured to transmit identification information of around of golf which is being played currently to the management server,the management server may be configured to identify the correspondinground of golf and to transmit personal information of golfersparticipating in the corresponding round of golf to the round operationterminal, and the round operation terminal may be configured toconstitute and provide an interface for inputting score informationbased on the personal information of the golfers received from themanagement server.

The round operation terminal may be configured to allow input of scoreinformation of the golfer generated during the round of golf and to havea camera unit for acquiring an image and the management server may beconfigured to receive the score information and image information fromthe round operation terminal and to store the received score informationand image information per round of golf.

The information provision guidance apparatus may be configured toreceive score information and image information of the golfer during theround of golf transmitted by the round operation terminal from themanagement server and to edit and print a score card using the receivedscore information and image information of the golfer.

A golf cart or the round operation terminal may be configured to have awireless access point (AP) device for enabling the golf cart or theround operation terminal to access the management server over a networksuch that a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round ofgolf can access to the management server over the network through thewireless AP device and information input through the round operationterminal and transmitted to the management server, in which theinformation is stored, may be transmitted to the mobile terminal of eachgolfer accessing the management server over the network through thewireless AP device.

Information input through the round operation terminal and transmittedto the management server, in which the information is stored, may betransmitted to a mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the roundof golf via a base station of a mobile communication system.

A mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf may beconfigured to drive an application that enables the mobile terminal toaccess the management server over a network, at least one selected frombetween golf score information input through the mobile terminal andimage information taken by the mobile terminal may be transmitted to themanagement server over the network, and the management server may beconfigured to store at least one selected from between the golf scoreinformation and the image information received from the mobile terminalper golfer playing the round of golf.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an information provision guidance apparatus for providing golfinformation configured to communicate with a management server forreceiving and storing information input through a round operationterminal during a round of golf in a wired/wireless communication mode,the information provision guidance apparatus including an input unit anda display unit configured such that input and display of information isperformed by a single means or by separate means, a control unitcomprising an information editing means for editing the informationreceived from the management server according to preset conditions tocreate predetermined golf information content, and an output unit foroutputting the golf information content created by the informationediting means.

The control unit may further include an authentication means formatching the information input through the input unit with prestoredinformation to authenticate a golfer, whereby the controller may outputthe golf information content of the golfer authenticated by theauthentication means.

The control unit may further include an advertisement processing meansfor processing the golf information content output through the outputunit such that the golf information content contains predeterminedadvertisement content.

A mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf may beconfigured to have a radio frequency identification informationtransmitting unit for transmitting information in radio frequencyidentification (RFID) communication or in near field communication (NFC)communication, the radio frequency identification informationtransmitting unit being set to prestore identification information ofeach golfer, the information provision guidance apparatus may furtherinclude a radio frequency identification information receiving unit forreceiving information in the RFID communication or in the NFCcommunication, the information stored in the radio frequencyidentification information transmitting unit being transmitted to theradio frequency identification information receiving unit by tagging themobile terminal on the information provision guidance apparatus, and thecontroller may be configured to authenticate each golfer according tothe received radio frequency identification information, to receive golfscore information regarding the round of golf played by each golfer fromthe management server, and to output the received golf scoreinformation.

The mobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf may beconfigured to have a terminal wireless communication unit fortransmitting and receiving information in Bluetooth communication or inWi-Fi communication, the mobile terminal being set to store informationinput by each golfer during the round of golf or image information takenby each golfer during the round of golf, the information provisionguidance apparatus may further include a wireless informationcommunication unit for transmitting and receiving information in theBluetooth communication or in the Wi-Fi communication, the wirelessinformation communication unit being configured to receive informationstored in the mobile terminal through communication with the terminalwireless communication unit of the mobile terminal, and the controllermay be configured to edit the information received from the mobileterminal and information received from the management server accordingto preset conditions such that predetermined golf information content iscreated and to output the created golf information content.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a golf information providing method including inputtinginformation generated during a round of golf to a round operationterminal or a mobile terminal for personal mobile communication held byeach golfer participating in the round of golf and transmitting theinformation to a management server communicating with the roundoperation terminal or the mobile terminal in a wireless communicationmode, requesting to output predetermined golf information content ofeach golfer participating in the round of golf through an informationprovision guidance apparatus after the round of golf is finished,receiving information regarding the requested golf information contentfrom the management server and editing the received informationaccording to preset conditions to create golf information content, andoutputting the created golf information content.

A golf cart or the round operation terminal may be provided with awireless AP device for enabling the golf cart or the round operationterminal to access the management server over a network such that amobile terminal held by each golfer playing the round of golf can accessto the management server over the network through the wireless APdevice, the step of transmitting the information to the managementserver may include inputting the information generated during the roundof golf through the round operation terminal and transmitting theinformation to the management server, and the golf information providingmethod may further include transmitting the information input throughthe round operation terminal, transmitted to the management server, andstored in the management server to the mobile terminal held by eachgolfer accessing the management server over the network through thewireless AP device.

The step of transmitting the information to the management server mayinclude inputting the information generated during the round of golfthrough the round operation terminal and transmitting the information tothe management server and the golf information providing method mayfurther include transmitting the information input through the roundoperation terminal, transmitted to the management server, and stored inthe management server to the mobile terminal of each golfer via a basestation of a mobile communication system.

The step of requesting to output the predetermined golf informationcontent of each golfer participating in the round of golf may includematching the information input by each golfer through the informationprovision guidance apparatus with prestored information to authenticateeach golfer, whereby outputting of the golf information content of eachgolfer authenticated through the authenticating step is requested.

The mobile terminal may be provided with a radio frequencyidentification information transmitting unit for transmittinginformation in RFID communication or in NFC communication, the radiofrequency identification information transmitting unit being set toprestore identification information of each golfer, the informationprovision guidance apparatus may include a radio frequencyidentification information receiving unit for receiving information inthe RFID communication or in the NFC communication, and the step ofrequesting to output the predetermined golf information content of eachgolfer participating in the round of golf may include transmittingidentification information of each golfer stored in the radio frequencyidentification information transmitting unit to the radio frequencyidentification information receiving unit by tagging the mobile terminalon the information provision guidance apparatus and authenticating eachgolfer according to the transmitted identification information, wherebyoutputting of the golf information content of each authenticated golferis requested.

The mobile terminal may be provided with a terminal wirelesscommunication unit for transmitting and receiving information inBluetooth communication or in Wi-Fi communication, the mobile terminalbeing set to store information input by each golfer during the round ofgolf or image information taken by each golfer during the round of golf,the information provision guidance apparatus may include a wirelessinformation communication unit for transmitting and receivinginformation in the Bluetooth communication or in the Wi-Ficommunication, and the step of creating the golf information content mayinclude transmitting input information or image information stored inthe mobile terminal to the information provision guidance apparatusthrough communication between the terminal wireless communication unitof the mobile terminal and the wireless information communication unitof the information provision guidance apparatus, receiving informationregarding the requested golf information content from the managementserver, and editing the information received from the mobile terminaland the information received from the management server according topreset conditions to create golf information content.

The step of creating the golf information content may include, in a casein which a plurality of images related to the requested golf informationcontent is present, displaying a selection screen for allowing eachgolfer to select a predetermined number of ones from the images throughthe information provision guidance apparatus and creating the golfinformation content using the images selected by each golfer through theselection screen.

The golf information content requested by each golfer at the step ofrequesting to output the golf information content may be a score cardhaving golf score during the round of golf written thereon and the stepof creating the golf information content may include displaying aselection screen for allowing each golfer to select any one from variouskinds of card styles having different backgrounds and formats of apredetermined score card and creating the score card based on the cardstyle selected by each golfer through the selection screen.

Advantageous Effects

In a golf information providing system, an information provisionguidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golfinformation providing method according to the present invention, it ispossible to efficiently input information generated during a round ofgolf in a golf course, to create predetermined golf information contentbased on the input information after the round of golf is finished, andto provide the created golf information content to each golfer. Inparticular, according to the present invention, it is possible toprovide a score card to each golfer with efforts made by a caddie tofill the score card using a conventional method. In addition, it ispossible to insert various kinds of content, such as images takenbefore, after, and during the round of golf, into the score card suchthat high-quality score cards can be provided to all golfersparticipating in the round of golf. Consequently, it is possible toexcite golfers' interest, to improve golfers' convenience, and toimprove quality of a service provided to the golfers.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing the construction of a golfinformation providing system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a golf informationproviding system based on the construction of an information provisionguidance apparatus for providing golf information according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a golf information providing methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a case in which a score card is output asgolf information content using the golf information providing methodshown in FIG. 3 in detail;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a score card which may be createdaccording to the golf information providing method shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the construction of a golf informationproviding system according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views illustrating golf information providing systemsaccording to other embodiments of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Now, exemplary embodiments of a golf information providing system, aninformation provision guidance apparatus for providing golf information,and a golf information providing method according to the presentinvention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

First, the construction of a golf information providing system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention will be schematicallydescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a golf information providing system according to anembodiment of the present invention includes a management server 100,round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc., and an informationprovision guidance apparatus 300.

The management server 100 may be installed inside or outside a golfcourse. The management server 100 may be configured to store informationregarding operation of a golf course, personal information of golfersregistered as members or non-members of the golf course, and informationregarding golf round operation of the golfers, to communicate with therespective round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. and theinformation provision guidance apparatus 300 for transmitting andreceiving information to and from the respective round operationterminals 210, 220, 230, etc. and the information provision guidanceapparatus 300, and to perform general management regarding provision ofgolf information to customers.

Each of the round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. is a means forallowing a caddie to input various kinds of information generated duringa round of golf performed on the basis of a team constituted by thecaddie and golfers. The respective round operation terminals 210, 220,230, etc. are configured to communicate with the management server 100in a wireless mode such that information input through the respectiveround operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. can be transmitted to themanagement server 100 and the management server 100 can store thereceived information.

The round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. may be provided perteam performing a round of golf such that various kinds of information,such as score information, of golfers constituting each team can beintegrally input through each of the round operation terminals 210, 220,230, etc.

In addition, each of the round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc.is provided with a wireless access point (AP) device, via which mobileterminals, such as smart phones, held by golfers performing a round ofgolf may access the management server 100 such that score informationinput to each of the round operation terminals 210, 220, 230, etc. canbe transmitted to the mobile terminal of each of the golfers via themanagement server 100.

On the other hand, a golf cart may be provided with an additionalwireless AP device that is capable of communicating with the managementserver 100 in a wireless mode such that a round operation terminal heldby a caddie and mobile terminals held by golfers can access themanagement server 100 through the wireless AP device of the golf cart,which will hereinafter be described in detail.

Meanwhile, the management server 100 may manage a plurality of rounds ofgolf. For this reason, the management server 100 may preset and storeidentification information regarding each round of golf. In this case,the management server 100 may also set and store identificationinformation regarding a round operation terminal which will be usedduring each round of golf.

For example, in a case in which golfers A, B, C, and D play a round ofgolf on a team together with caddie E, identification informationregarding the round of golf and identification information regarding around operation terminal which will be used during the round of golf maybe preset and, in addition, golfers A, B, C, and D and caddie E may bepreregistered as members using the round operation terminal during theround of golf.

The round operation terminal may be held by the caddie such that thecaddie can input the number of strokes taken by each golfer during eachhole. The round operation terminal may be provided with a camera unit soas to take pictures or videos In addition to the input of information.

Consequently, the caddie may input the number of strokes taken by eachgolfer during the round of golf through the round operation terminal andtake group pictures of the golfers or videos regarding swing motions ofthe respective golfers. That is, the caddie may collect various kinds ofinformation generated before, after, and during the round of golf andtransmit the collected information to the management server such thatcontent configured in a predetermined form may be provided to therespective golfers later.

Meanwhile, the information provision guidance apparatus 300 may beconfigured to provide various kinds of information generated during around of golf to golfers participating in the round of golf in apredetermined form. For example, the information provision guidanceapparatus 300 may be configured in a KIOSK form.

The information provision guidance apparatus 300 may be installed in aclub house of a golf course such that, after completion of a round ofgolf, golfers participating in the round of golf may read their scoreinformation through the information provision guidance apparatus 300 orcontent configured in a predetermined form using their score informationmay be provided to the respective golfers through the informationprovision guidance apparatus 300.

For example, in a case in which golfers A, B, C, and D play a round ofgolf as a team together with caddie E, the caddie may take grouppictures of the golfers through the round operation terminal and inputscore information of the respective golfers through the round operationterminal during the round of golf. The input score information may betransmitted to the management server together with image information,i.e. the group pictures of the golfers such that the score informationand the image information can be stored in the management server. Aftercompletion of the round of golf, each of the golfers may request a scorecard containing his/her score information to be output through theinformation provision guidance apparatus in the club house. Theinformation provision guidance apparatus may receive correspondinginformation from the management server in response to the request,properly process and edit the corresponding information to create ascore card containing the pictures of the golfers, and output the scorecard as golf information content such that their unique score cards canbe conveniently provided to all of the golfers.

The construction of the information provision guidance apparatus 300will hereinafter be described in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of an informationprovision guidance apparatus for providing golf information according toan embodiment of the present invention and the construction of a golfinformation providing system including the information provisionguidance apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, an information provision guidance apparatus 300 forproviding golf information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include an input unit 310 for allowing input ofpredetermined information, a display unit 320 for outputting thepredetermined information to a screen, a storage unit 340 for storingthe predetermined information, an output unit 350 for outputting, e.g.printing, the predetermined information, and a control unit 330 forgenerally controlling the above-mentioned components and performingvarious functions, such as authentication of golfers participating in around of golf, information editing for creating golf information contentregarding information requested by the golfers, and advertisementprocessing.

The input unit 310 and the display unit 320 may be provided as separatemeans. Alternatively, the input unit 310 and the display unit 320 may beintegrated into a single means.

For example, the display unit 320 may be realized as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) screen and the input unit 310 may be realized as akeyboard. Alternatively, the input unit 310 and the display unit 320 maybe realized as a touchscreen, which a user may touch to inputinformation while watching the touchscreen.

The control unit 330 may include an authentication means 331 formatching information input through the input unit 310 with prestoredinformation to authenticate golfers, an information editing means 332for editing information received from the management server 100according to preset conditions to create a predetermined form of golfinformation content, and an advertisement processing means 333 forprocessing golf information content output through the output unit 350such that the golf information content contains predeterminedadvertisement content.

The authentication means 331, the information editing means 332, and theadvertisement processing means 333 may be realized as softwareprogrammed in one processor. Alternatively, the authentication means331, the information editing means 332, and the advertisement processingmeans 333 may be realized as separate processors in the form ofhardware.

The authentication means 331 may be configured to authenticate golfersbased on numbers of lockers assigned to the respective golfers or namesor membership numbers of the respective golfers.

Although not shown definitely in the drawing, a card, having a radiofrequency identification (RFID) chip mounted therein, held by eachgolfer may be read by a reader (not shown) provided in the informationprovision guidance apparatus 300 to authenticate the golfer.Alternatively, authentication of each golfer may be achieved using acommunication terminal held by each golfer or a card, having a nearfield communication (NFC) function mounted therein, held by each golferin an NFC mode.

The information editing means 332 may create a predetermined form ofgolf information content using information collected during a round ofgolf received from the management server 100. For example, theinformation editing means 332 may receive score information and imageinformation of an authenticated golfer from the management server 100,edit the score information and the image information in a beautiful andvaluable form to create a unique score card as golf information content,and output the score card through the output unit 350 such that thescore card can be printed on a high-quality paper sheet.

The golf information content may be configured in various forms inaddition to the score card. For example, various images of a golfercollected during a round of golf may be received from the managementserver 100 (the images being information collected through the roundoperation terminal 200 during the round of golf and transmitted to themanagement server 100) and content may be created and output in the formof a catalog of a photo album.

In addition, history information of a golfer may be received from themanagement server 100, edited in a beautiful form, and output.

The advertisement processing means 333 may process advertisementinformation received from an advertisement server (not shown) that iscapable of performing wired/wireless communication such that theadvertisement information can be inserted into golf information contentwhich will be output through the output unit 350. Although not connectedto the advertisement server (not shown), the advertisement processingmeans 333 may process advertisement information prestored in the storageunit 340 such that the advertisement information can be inserted intogolf information content which will be output through the output unit350.

Hereinafter, a golf information providing method according to anembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toa flowchart shown in FIG. 3.

When a golfer starts to play a round of golf in a golf course afteradmittance, the management server recognizes basic information, such aspersonal information, of the golfer and, in addition, identificationinformation regarding the round of golf which will be played by thegolfer and identification information regarding a round operationterminal which will be used in the round of golf.

When the round of golf starts to be played in this state, informationgenerated during the round of golf is input through the round operationterminal (S10) and the input information is transmitted to themanagement server (S20).

When the round of golf is finished (S30), the golfer may request golfinformation content to be output through the information provisionguidance apparatus installed in the club house. Upon receiving a requestto output the golf information content from the golfer (S40), relevantinformation is transmitted from the management server to the informationprovision guidance apparatus (S50). The information provision guidanceapparatus creates requested golf information content based on thereceived information (S60) and outputs the created golf informationcontent such that the golf information content can be provided to thegolfer (S70).

A more concrete example of the golf information providing method shownin FIG. 3 is shown in a flowchart of FIG. 4. Hereinafter, a case inwhich a score card is output using the golf information providing methodaccording to the present invention will be described in detail withreference to FIG. 4.

Before a round of golf starts to be played or during the round of golf,identification information regarding the round of golf, identificationinformation regarding a round operation terminal which will be used inthe round of golf, and information regarding golfers and a caddie asmembers participating in the round of golf are stored in the managementserver (S100).

Subsequently, personal information of the golfers playing the round ofgolf is transmitted from the management server to the round operationterminal (S110) and the round operation terminal constitutes aninterface for inputting score information based on the personalinformation of the golfers (S120).

During the round of golf, the caddie inputs score information of therespective golfers using the round operation terminal (S130). In a casein which the caddie takes pictures of the golfers using the roundoperation terminal before, after, and during the round of golf, imageinformation is stored in the round operation terminal.

When the round of golf is finished (S300), the score information inputthrough the round operation terminal and the image information stored inthe round operation terminal are transmitted to the management server(S310). Each of the golfers may request a score card having his/herscore written thereon to be output through the information provisionguidance apparatus installed in the club house (S400).

Upon receiving requests to output the score card from each golfer,authentication of the golfer is carried out first of all (S410). At thistime, authentication of the golfer may be carried out using variousmethods. Authentication of the golfer was previously described and,therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

After authentication of the golfer is completed, the score informationand/or the image information of the golfer is transmitted from themanagement server to the information provision guidance apparatus(S500). In a case in which the golfer requests to output only his/herscore information, only the score information of the golfer istransmitted. On the other hand, in a case in which the golfer requeststo output score information of all the golfers participating in theround of golf, all of the score information of the respective golfers istransmitted.

The information provision guidance apparatus edits the score informationand/or the image information of the golfer received from the managementserver based on preset conditions, i.e. a form prepared for outputting ascore card, and inserts predetermined advertisement content into theform to create a score card (S600).

Subsequently, the created score card is output (S700) such that thescore information acquired during the round of golf may be provided tothe golfer in the form of a beautiful score card. Score cards may becreated for all of the golfers participating in the round of golf in thesame manner as described above and then output and provided to all ofthe golfers.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a score card which may be outputaccording to the golf information providing method shown in theflowchart of FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, a score card SC may contain an image 10 of allmembers taken with a golf course in the background during a round ofgolf, score information 20 of golfers, and advertisement content 30.

Meanwhile, the golf information providing system according to thepresent invention provides various kinds of information, such as scoreinformation, to the golfers through the information provision guidanceapparatus as described above. In addition, the golf informationproviding system according to the present invention may directly providescore information through mobile terminals, such as smart phones, heldby the respective golfers.

FIG. 6 is a view showing additional construction of the golf informationproviding system according to the embodiment of the present inventionshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 that enables golfers not only to receivepredetermined information through the information provision guidanceapparatus 300 but also to receive predetermined information, such asscore information, through mobile terminals 500 of the golfers.

A round operation terminal 200 held by a caddie or a golf cart 400 maybe provided with a wireless AP device, via which mobile terminals 500 ofgolfers within a predetermined radius range of the round operationterminal 200 or the golf cart 400 can access the management server 100over a network.

Consequently, the respective golfers playing a round of golf may accessthe management server 100 via the golf cart 400 or the round operationterminal 200 using the mobile terminals 500, such as the smart phones,held by the golfers such that respective golfers can receive scoreinformation input by the caddie through the round operation terminal 200or various kinds of image information of the golfers stored in the roundoperation terminal 200 from the management server 100.

For example, when the caddie inputs score information through the roundoperation terminal 200 during the round of golf, the input informationis transmitted to the management server 100, which stores theinformation, and the respective golfers may access the management server100 via the round operation terminal 200 or the golf cart 400 usingtheir mobile terminals 500 to receive the score information stored inthe management server 100.

On the other hand, the mobile terminal of each golfer may receivevarious kinds of information, such as score information, generatedduring the round of golf via a base station 20 on a mobile communicationsystem. For example, score information input through the round operationterminal 200 may be transmitted to the management server 100, which maystore the score information, and the management server 100 may transmitthe corresponding information to the mobile terminal 500 of each golfervia the base station 20 located in the vicinity of the management server100.

In addition, the mobile terminal held by each golfer may drive anapplication that enables the mobile terminal to directly access themanagement server over a network. In a state in which the mobileterminal held by each golfer accesses the management server over thenetwork, each golfer may input his/her golf score information throughhis/her mobile terminal instead of the round operation terminal and theinput score information may be transmitted to the management server 100,which may store the score information (the management server may storethe score information per golfer).

In general, the mobile terminal is provided with a camera means. Eachgolfer may take his/her picture using the mobile terminal held by eachgolfer during the round of golf and store image informationcorresponding to the picture of each golfer in the mobile terminal heldby each golfer. In addition, the image information may be transmitted tothe management server which the mobile terminal accesses over thenetwork such that the image information may be stored in the managementserver.

FIG. 7 is a view showing access to an information provision guidanceapparatus of a golf information providing system according to thepresent invention using a mobile terminal held by each golfer.

As shown in FIG. 7, an information provision guidance apparatus of agolf information providing system according to another embodiment of thepresent invention may further include a radio frequency identificationinformation receiving unit 360 (components denoted by reference numerals310 to 360 are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 2 and,therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted). The radiofrequency identification information receiving unit 360 may beconfigured to communicate with a radio frequency identificationinformation transmitting unit (not shown) mounted in a mobile terminal500 held by each golfer.

The radio frequency identification information transmitting unit may bemounted in a mobile terminal, such as a smart phone. The radio frequencyidentification information transmitting unit is configured to transmitinformation in a RFID mode or in an NFC mode.

In a case in which the radio frequency identification informationtransmitting unit performs RFID communication, the radio frequencyidentification information receiving unit 360 may be realized as an RFIDreader. On the other hand, in a case in which the radio frequencyidentification information transmitting unit performs NFC communication,the radio frequency identification information receiving unit 360 may berealized as an NFC receiver.

The golfer may store his/her identification information (for example, IDor personal information of the golfer registered with a golf course) inthe radio frequency identification information transmitting unit ofhis/her own mobile terminal (of course, such identification informationshould be registered with the system) and tag the mobile terminal on theinformation provision guidance apparatus according to the presentinvention to transmit the identification information stored in the radiofrequency identification information transmitting unit of the mobileterminal to the control unit 330 via the radio frequency identificationinformation receiving unit 360. The controller 330 may match theidentification information with prestored information of the golferthrough the authentication means 31 to authenticate the golfer.

After authentication of the golfer is carried out using the mobileterminal as described above, the golfer may receive golf informationcontent, such as score information, of the round of golf played by thegolfer through the information provision guidance apparatus (This waspreviously described with reference to FIG. 2 and, therefore, a detaileddescription thereof will be omitted).

Meanwhile, FIG. 8 is a view showing that predetermined informationstored in a mobile terminal held by each golfer (for example, imageinformation taken using the mobile terminal of each golfer during around of golf) is transmitted to an information provision guidanceapparatus of a golf information providing system according to thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, an information provision guidance apparatus of agolf information providing system according to a further embodiment ofthe present invention may further include a wireless informationcommunication unit 370 (components denoted by reference numerals 310 to360 are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 2 and,therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted). The wirelessinformation communication unit 370 may be configured to communicate witha terminal wireless communication unit (not shown) mounted in a mobileterminal 500 held by each golfer.

The wireless information communication unit 370 of the informationprovision guidance apparatus may be mounted in a mobile terminal, suchas a smart phone. The wireless information communication unit isconfigured to transmit and receive predetermined information to and fromthe terminal wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal throughcommunication based on a wireless local area network (LAN), such asBluetooth or Wi-Fi.

The golfer may input various kinds of information, such as scoreinformation, record voices, or take videos using his/her own mobileterminal during a round of golf and store the obtained information inthe mobile terminal. After the round of golf is finished, the mobileterminal may access the information provision guidance apparatus inwireless communication, such as Bluetooth such that various kinds ofinformation, such as the image information, stored in the mobileterminal can be transmitted to the information provision guidanceapparatus.

At this time, authentication of the golfer has already been carried outby the information provision guidance apparatus (Authentication of thegolfer may be carried out through input of predetermined informationusing the input unit or through RFID or NFC communication oridentification information may be contained in information transmittedthrough Bluetooth communication such that authentication of the golfercan be automatically carried out). The control unit 330 may edit notonly various kinds of information, such as image information, receivedfrom the mobile terminal but also information regarding the round ofgolf played by the golfer received from the management server based onpreset conditions to create unique golf information content of thegolfer (for example, a score card containing the image information ofthe golfer) and provide the created golf information content to thegolfer.

At this time, the created golf information content may be output andprovided to the golfer. Alternatively, the created golf informationcontent may be transmitted to the mobile terminal of the golfer suchthat the golf information content can be provided to the golfer in anelectronic form of information.

In a case in which a plurality of images of the golfer is present duringcreation of the golf information content, the information provisionguidance apparatus may display a selection screen for allowing thegolfer to select at least one of the images and, when the golfer selectsa specific one of the images, create golf information content using theselected image.

In addition, in a case in which the control unit of the informationprovision guidance apparatus presets various kinds of card styles havingdifferent backgrounds and formats of the score card, the informationprovision guidance apparatus may display a selection screen for allowingthe golfer to select any one of the card styles during creation of thecreate golf information content, specifically the score card havingscores during the round of golf written thereon, and, when the golferselects a specific one of the card styles, create or output score cardinformation based on the selected card style.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Various embodiments for carrying out the invention have been describedin the best mode for carrying out the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In a golf information providing system, an information provisionguidance apparatus for providing golf information, and a golfinformation providing method according to the present invention, it ispossible to conveniently provide users with information related to around of golf in a golf course such that the users are provided withvarious conveniences related to golf while enjoying golf Consequently,the present invention is applicable to an industry related to golf.

1. A golf information providing system comprising: a round operationterminal for allowing input of information generated during a round ofgolf; a management server configured to communicate with the roundoperation terminal in a wireless communication mode for receiving andstoring the information input through the round operation terminal; andan information provision guidance apparatus configured to communicatewith the management server in a wired/wireless communication mode forreceiving information requested by a golfer from the management serverand providing the received information to the golfer according to arequest of the golfer.
 2. The golf information providing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the management server is configured toprestore personal information of golfers participating in each round ofgolf, the round operation terminal is configured to transmitidentification information of a round of golf which is being playedcurrently to the management server, the management server is configuredto identify the corresponding round of golf and to transmit personalinformation of golfers participating in the corresponding round of golfto the round operation terminal, and the round operation terminal isconfigured to constitute and provide an interface for inputting scoreinformation based on the personal information of the golfers receivedfrom the management server.
 3. The golf information providing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the round operation terminal is configuredto allow input of score information of the golfer generated during theround of golf and to have a camera unit for acquiring an image, and themanagement server is configured to receive the score information andimage information from the round operation terminal and to store thereceived score information and image information per round of golf. 4.The golf information providing system according to claim 1, wherein theinformation provision guidance apparatus is configured to receive scoreinformation and image information of the golfer during the round of golftransmitted by the round operation terminal from the management serverand to edit and print a score card using the received score informationand image information of the golfer.
 5. The golf information providingsystem according to claim 1, wherein a golf cart or the round operationterminal is configured to have a wireless access point (AP) device forenabling the golf cart or the round operation terminal to access themanagement server over a network such that a mobile terminal held byeach golfer playing the round of golf can access to the managementserver over the network through the wireless AP device, and informationinput through the round operation terminal and transmitted to themanagement server, in which the information is stored, is transmitted tothe mobile terminal of each golfer accessing the management server overthe network through the wireless AP device.
 6. The golf informationproviding system according to claim 1, wherein information input throughthe round operation terminal and transmitted to the management server,in which the information is stored, is transmitted to a mobile terminalheld by each golfer playing the round of golf via a base station of amobile communication system.
 7. The golf information providing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein a mobile terminal held by each golferplaying the round of golf is configured to drive an application thatenables the mobile terminal to access the management server over anetwork, at least one selected from between golf score information inputthrough the mobile terminal and image information taken by the mobileterminal is transmitted to the management server over the network, andthe management server is configured to store at least one selected frombetween the golf score information and the image information receivedfrom the mobile terminal per golfer playing the round of golf.
 8. Aninformation provision guidance apparatus for providing golf informationconfigured to communicate with a management server for receiving andstoring information input through a round operation terminal during around of golf in a wired/wireless communication mode, the informationprovision guidance apparatus comprising: an input unit and a displayunit configured such that input and display of information is performedby a single means or by separate means; a control unit comprising aninformation editing means for editing the information received from themanagement server according to preset conditions to create predeterminedgolf information content; and an output unit for outputting the golfinformation content created by the information editing means.
 9. Theinformation provision guidance apparatus according to claim 8, whereinthe control unit further comprises an authentication means for matchingthe information input through the input unit with prestored informationto authenticate a golfer, whereby the controller outputs the golfinformation content of the golfer authenticated by the authenticationmeans.
 10. The information provision guidance apparatus according toclaim 8, wherein the control unit further comprises an advertisementprocessing means for processing the golf information content outputthrough the output unit such that the golf information content containspredetermined advertisement content.
 11. The information provisionguidance apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a mobile terminal heldby each golfer playing the round of golf is configured to have a radiofrequency identification information transmitting unit for transmittinginformation in radio frequency identification (RFID) communication or innear field communication (NFC) communication, the radio frequencyidentification information transmitting unit being set to prestoreidentification information of each golfer, the information provisionguidance apparatus further comprises a radio frequency identificationinformation receiving unit for receiving information in the RFIDcommunication or in the NFC communication, the information stored in theradio frequency identification information transmitting unit beingtransmitted to the radio frequency identification information receivingunit by tagging the mobile terminal on the information provisionguidance apparatus, and the controller is configured to authenticateeach golfer according to the received radio frequency identificationinformation, to receive golf score information regarding the round ofgolf played by each golfer from the management server, and to output thereceived golf score information.
 12. The information provision guidanceapparatus according to claim 8, wherein a mobile terminal held by eachgolfer playing the round of golf is configured to have a terminalwireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving informationin Bluetooth communication or in Wi-Fi communication, the mobileterminal being set to store information input by each golfer during theround of golf or image information taken by each golfer during the roundof golf, the information provision guidance apparatus further comprisesa wireless information communication unit for transmitting and receivinginformation in the Bluetooth communication or in the Wi-Ficommunication, the wireless information communication unit beingconfigured to receive information stored in the mobile terminal throughcommunication with the terminal wireless communication unit of themobile terminal, and the controller is configured to edit theinformation received from the mobile terminal and information receivedfrom the management server according to preset conditions such thatpredetermined golf information content is created and to output thecreated golf information content.
 13. A golf information providingmethod comprising: inputting information generated during a round ofgolf to a round operation terminal or a mobile terminal for personalmobile communication held by each golfer participating in the round ofgolf and transmitting the information to a management servercommunicating with the round operation terminal or the mobile terminalin a wireless communication mode; requesting to output predeterminedgolf information content of each golfer participating in the round ofgolf through an information provision guidance apparatus after the roundof golf is finished; receiving information regarding the requested golfinformation content from the management server and editing the receivedinformation according to preset conditions to create golf informationcontent; and outputting the created golf information content.
 14. Thegolf information providing method according to claim 13, wherein a golfcart or the round operation terminal is provided with a wireless APdevice for enabling the golf cart or the round operation terminal toaccess the management server over a network such that a mobile terminalheld by each golfer playing the round of golf can access to themanagement server over the network through the wireless AP device, thestep of transmitting the information to the management server comprisesinputting the information generated during the round of golf through theround operation terminal and transmitting the information to themanagement server, and the golf information providing method furthercomprises transmitting the information input through the round operationterminal, transmitted to the management server, and stored in themanagement server to the mobile terminal held by each golfer accessingthe management server over the network through the wireless AP device.15. The golf information providing method according to claim 13, whereinthe step of transmitting the information to the management servercomprises inputting the information generated during the round of golfthrough the round operation terminal and transmitting the information tothe management server, and the golf information providing method furthercomprises transmitting the information input through the round operationterminal, transmitted to the management server, and stored in themanagement server to the mobile terminal of each golfer via a basestation of a mobile communication system.
 16. The golf informationproviding method according to claim 13, wherein the step of requestingto output the predetermined golf information content of each golferparticipating in the round of golf comprises matching the informationinput by each golfer through the information provision guidanceapparatus with prestored information to authenticate each golfer,whereby outputting of the golf information content of each golferauthenticated through the authenticating step is requested.
 17. The golfinformation providing method according to claim 13, wherein the mobileterminal is provided with a radio frequency identification informationtransmitting unit for transmitting information in RFID communication orin NFC communication, the radio frequency identification informationtransmitting unit being set to prestore identification information ofeach golfer, the information provision guidance apparatus comprises aradio frequency identification information receiving unit for receivinginformation in the RFID communication or in the NFC communication, andthe step of requesting to output the predetermined golf informationcontent of each golfer participating in the round of golf comprises:transmitting identification information of each golfer stored in theradio frequency identification information transmitting unit to theradio frequency identification information receiving unit by tagging themobile terminal on the information provision guidance apparatus; andauthenticating each golfer according to the transmitted identificationinformation, whereby outputting of the golf information content of eachauthenticated golfer is requested.
 18. The golf information providingmethod according to claim 13, wherein the mobile terminal is providedwith have a terminal wireless communication unit for transmitting andreceiving information in Bluetooth communication or in Wi-Ficommunication, the mobile terminal being set to store information inputby each golfer during the round of golf or image information taken byeach golfer during the round of golf, the information provision guidanceapparatus comprises a wireless information communication unit fortransmitting and receiving information in the Bluetooth communication orin the Wi-Fi communication, and the step of creating the golfinformation content comprises: transmitting input information or imageinformation stored in the mobile terminal to the information provisionguidance apparatus through communication between the terminal wirelesscommunication unit of the mobile terminal and the wireless informationcommunication unit of the information provision guidance apparatus;receiving information regarding the requested golf information contentfrom the management server; and editing the information received fromthe mobile terminal and the information received from the managementserver according to preset conditions to create golf informationcontent.
 19. The golf information providing method according to claim13, wherein the step of creating the golf information content comprises:in a case in which a plurality of images related to the requested golfinformation content is present, displaying a selection screen forallowing each golfer to select a predetermined number of ones from theimages through the information provision guidance apparatus; andcreating the golf information content using the images selected by eachgolfer through the selection screen.
 20. The golf information providingmethod according to claim 13, wherein the golf information contentrequested by each golfer at the step of requesting to output the golfinformation content is a score card having golf score during the roundof golf written thereon, and the step of creating the golf informationcontent comprises: displaying a selection screen for allowing eachgolfer to select any one from various kinds of card styles havingdifferent backgrounds and formats of a predetermined score card; andcreating the score card based on the card style selected by each golferthrough the selection screen.